DEFENDING TEAM CHAMPIONS

RETURNING INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

2A boys singles — Ty Gentry, Tumwater, sr.

1A/1B/2B girls singles — Sasha Cayward, Forest Ridge, jr.

THE SKINNY

It is sort of an odd year for returning state champions. Issaquah’s Jackson Suh, a California commit who made the Class 4A finals the past two seasons, including winning the crown last year, decided not to turn out for the team this spring. And reigning 3A champion Oscar Burney, of Garfield, is playing doubles instead. That leaves Gentry, a University of Oregon signee, as the headline returner. Gentry is vying to become the first player to win three consecutive state singles titles since Interlake’s Connor Garnett (2011-14), who won four titles between 2A and 3A. … When Michelle Lui won four 1A/2B/1B titles at Forest Ridge (2011-14), she passed the baton to a teammate to carry on the tradition — Cayward. Now a junior, Cayward is trying to repeat as 1A/2B/1B girls singles champion. … The Charles Wright Academy boys have captured the team title in seven of the past nine seasons. Defending the crown will be a challenge with only two entries. But senior Griffin Welsh, the 2014 state runner-up, is the favorite in singles. And reigning state doubles runners-up, Dylan and Tyler Sam, are the top returners in their bracket. … Watch out for Olympia junior Jamie Bautista, the 4A West Central District boys singles champion. He was fifth as a ninth-grader in 2014, and fourth last season as a sophomore. He could be a big reason why the Bears repeat as 4A team champions.